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Ethnic Identity and Mental Health in American Indian Youth: Examining Mediation Pathways Through Self-esteem, and Future Optimism

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Abstract

Mental health functioning in American Indian youth is an understudied topic. Given the increased rates of depression and anxiety in this population, further research is needed. Using multiple group structural equation modeling, the current study illuminates the effect of ethnic identity on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and externalizing behavior in a group of Lumbee adolescents and a group of Caucasian, African American, and Latino/Hispanic adolescents. This study examined two possible pathways (i.e., future optimism and self-esteem) through which ethnic identity is associated with adolescent mental health. The sample (N = 4,714) is 28.53 % American Indian (Lumbee) and 51.38 % female. The study findings indicate that self-esteem significantly mediated the relationships between ethnic identity and anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and externalizing behavior for all racial/ethnic groups (i.e., the total sample). Future optimism significantly mediated the relationship between ethnic identity and externalizing behavior for all racial/ethnic groups and was a significant mediator between ethnic identity and depressive symptoms for American Indian youth only. Fostering ethnic identity in all youth serves to enhance mental health functioning, but is especially important for American Indian youth due to the collective nature of their culture.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided through a cooperative agreement with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (5 U01 CE001948-03). The authors wish to thank Diane Wyant, Academic Editor and Educational Specialist, for her editorial feedback on drafts of this article. We would also like to thank the schools and students who participated in this research.

Author Contributions

PS conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, and helped to draft the manuscript; CE helped to perform the statistical analysis and helped to draft the manuscript; KC helped to perform the statistical analysis and helped to draft the manuscript; KW helped to perform the statistical analysis and helped to draft the methods portion of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB # 3550, 325 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3550, USA

    Paul R. Smokowski, Caroline B. R. Evans, Katie L. Cotter & Kristina C. Webber

  2. School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Paul R. Smokowski

  3. North Carolina Academic Center for Excellence, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Paul R. Smokowski

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  1. Paul R. Smokowski
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  2. Caroline B. R. Evans
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Correspondence to Paul R. Smokowski.

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Smokowski, P.R., Evans, C.B.R., Cotter, K.L. et al. Ethnic Identity and Mental Health in American Indian Youth: Examining Mediation Pathways Through Self-esteem, and Future Optimism. J Youth Adolescence 43, 343–355 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9992-7

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